Right Care for the Right Patient Each and Every Time

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging and Biometrics
• Radiation Oncology Informatics

Background:

• Accurate patient identification is critical in radiation oncology to prevent treatment errors.
• Existing identification methods may be prone to errors, necessitating more robust solutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a palm vein biometrics system for patient identification in radiation oncology.
• To enhance patient safety by ensuring correct treatment delivery.

Main Methods:

• A palm vein biometrics system (PVBS) was interfaced with the radiation oncology patient management system (ROPMS).
• The system was integrated for patient check-in and to verify patient identity at the point of care before treatment initiation.

Main Results:

• Staff training for the PVBS was completed in one hour.
• Successful implementation required clear policies, procedures, and proper patient hand placement on the scanner.

Conclusions:

• Palm vein biometrics effectively ensures that the correct patient receives the intended radiation therapy.
• The PVBS provides auditable documentation of correct patient identification for each treatment session.